Emerging Technology

Framing ethical perspectives

Emerging Technologies are technologies whose development and/or practical applications are still largely unrealized. If left unchecked, these technologies could exacerbate inequality and empower autocrats, destabilize society, and destroy the concept of privacy. Carnegie Council’s events, experts, and impact initiatives, such as the Artificial Intelligence & Equality Initiative (AIEI), focus on the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies and aim to map the field, illuminate topics requiring further research, and build a diverse community of experts, with the goal of ensuring that AI is developed and deployed in a just, responsible, and inclusive manner.

Featured Emerging Technology Resources

Artificial intelligence, climate-altering technologies, and more

APR 9, 2024 Video

Algorithms of War: The Use of AI in Armed Conflict

From Gaza to Ukraine, the military applications of AI are fundamentally reshaping the ethics of war. How should policymakers navigate AI’s inherent trade-offs?

MAR 27, 2024 Article

The Specter of EMP Weapons in Space

Visiting Fellow Zhanna Malekos Smith details the danger of electromagnetic pulse weapons. How can nations protect themselves from this catastrophic threat?

Explore Our Emerging Technology Resources

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-239335264/stock-vector-hipster-man-in-the-bed-time-with-smart-phone-the-technology-addiction.html?src=KQh4y1dkn217MJyOxauWcg-1-17&ws=1">Shutterstock</a>

FEB 18, 2015 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: How We Think: Reflections on Thought in The Digital Age

On why now I do not have Wi-Fi in my apartment and relegate the first portion of my day to undisrupted and immersive activities such ...

Joshua Asaro

FEB 4, 2015 Article

"'Acta Non Verba' (Deeds Not Words)" by Joshua M. Asaro

"If we are to see growth in our society in the next hundred years, we have got to see an end to the days where ...

CREDIT: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/yuwenmemon/9522024093"> Yuwen Memon</a><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/"> (CC)</a>

JAN 16, 2015 Podcast

Politics and Profits of Academia

Even if universities are not for profit, budgets loom large in higher education--and global markets hold revenue potential. In this episode, we look at three ...

DEC 22, 2014 Podcast

Money and American Politics: A Conversation with Lawrence Lessig

On a crusade against the corrupting influence of money in politics, Lawrence Lessig founded a "super PAC" which raised $10 million to support candidates committed to ...

NOV 14, 2014 Podcast

A Conversation with David Keyes on Advancing Human Rights

In the Soviet era, it was difficult to alert the world of what was happening to dissidents, says David Keyes. Today, however, there's an overload ...

SEP 25, 2014 Article

Ethics Fellows for the Future 2014 Essay Collection

This booklet is a collection of the Ethics Fellows for the Future (EFF) essays and project outlines as well as the winning essay of Carnegie ...

CREDIT: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/infocux/8450190120/">infocux Technologies</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en">(CC)</a>

SEP 5, 2014 Podcast

Big Data, Virginia Woolf, and the Right to be Forgotten

As a society, we're still developing vocabulary to talk about data technology and the moral questions it raises. In this first of a series of ...

Decision. CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/8275165638">Thomas Hawk</a> (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">CC</a>)

AUG 4, 2014 Article

Toward Understanding Our World's Moral Landscape: Carnegie Council's Centennial Projects on a "Global Ethic"

As part of its Centennial activities, Carnegie Council launched several projects, including the Global Ethical Dialogues and Thought Leaders Forum, to explore the concept of ...

Protesters in Sao Paulo in June 2013 via <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-190374902/stock-photo-sao-paulo-brazil-june-some-protesters-marching-on-paulista-avenue-holding-signs-with.html?src=9bHtQcDaZEdt6k_Tqv-RUw-1-12">Shutterstock</a>

JUN 25, 2014 Article

The Participation Gap

"Inequality doesn't result only from differences in income or wealth (the focus of French economist Thomas Piketty). It also has a political dimension, fueled by ...

CREDIT: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandialabs/5804732918">Sandia Labs / Randy Montoya</a> (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">CC</a>).

JUN 18, 2014 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Of Moonshots and Slingshots

Only if policy people and technologists work together better will we change the world in ways that are congruent with our most critical human needs ...